Modeling in the Big Apple

It's 8 a.m., and senior Ivy Winston has to be out of the house by 9. Forget about school; this Wednesday morning, Winston's day begins with a two-hour ride on the New York subway to a modeling agency. Who knows - it may end with a photo shoot, a few walks down a runway or even an appearance on a daytime soap opera.

Since she began pursuing a modeling career in New York City in January, Winston carries high-heeled shoes in her backpack instead of her science binder and pencil case. She has had "the look" since middle school, towering at a slim 5'10." People have often asked her if she ever modeled. Now that she has been signed to New York's Eon Model Management, Winston can finally answer "yes."

Eon, which caters to top designers like Tommy Hilfiger and Oscar de la Renta, casts 20 models all around New York and assists them in joining larger agencies.

Most modeling agencies have strict requirements for their "high fashion" models: 25-inch waist, 35-inch hips, 5'8" and 5'11" height and age 13 to 25 years, according to Gloss Model Management. Winston fits the bill. "There's a lot of competition," says Winston. "Sometimes you'll look at other girls and say, `She's better looking than me — hotter and skinnier than me.' It makes you lose self-esteem and you get low confidence sometimes." Yet, despite the struggle to "stay looking good," modeling is what Winston wants to do.

Lights, camera, action!

Today, Winston sports a pair of cowboy boots, denim capris, a matching vest and a cowboy hat covering her brunette curls split into two puffy pigtails. Underneath her just unbuttoned blouse is a bikini top. Amidst the lights and giant microphones, Winston easily earns $300 for her part on "As the World Turns" as a guest mingling at a rock show, which aired the week of March 7 on CBS.

"It was my first job and I was like, `Cool, I get to be on TV,'" Winston said.

Her other jobs have included posing for a photo shoot for the hair studio Gold World USA, for which she was paid $200, and modeling clothes valued at $1,000 for designer Nicole Fari. "I get paid to try on clothes!" she says.

Winston began modeling at Barbizon International, Inc., in October 2003 after receiving a postcard inviting her to the school's information session.

While at the bi-annual International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) competitions in New York City this past summer, Winston received offers from several modeling agencies. Elite Models, one of the world's top agencies, offered Winston an opportunity to model in Paris, but told her to lose an inch off of her waist first. Winston plans to make the trip and is optimistic about shedding the weight. "I'm already small, what's one more inch?"

Nothing comes easy

Winston's mom, Judy Dickinson, says finances have been the most difficult hurdle of Winston's new career. IMTA charged a whopping $5,000 for the competition. Winston's church, family and friends pulled together to help pay for the competition.

Winston credits most of her success to her mother. "She sacrificed so much for me, so much time. Even when my photo shoots were a little [revealing], she didn't make a big deal about it," says Winston.

Away from home, Winston relies on support from friends and family; she now resides with family friends in Queens, closer to Eon's office. She also plans to take an online English course so that she can graduate from high school in June.

When Winston's 11th grade English teacher, Lucas Henry, heard of her decision to pursue modeling instead of a college degree after graduation, he could not hide his disappointment. "I was pretty honest. I said, `Your looks aren't going to last forever. This is a short-term thing,'" he said.

With Henry's encouragement, Winston applied to Drexel University and was accepted, but she does not plan to attend college for at least another year. After her modeling career is over, though, she does not want to be involved with anything related to fashion. "Right now, I'm a model," she says. "I don't want to [ever] make the clothes…I want to be a mechanic. Forget the people; I want to dress the cars."